What
kind of auto insurance coverage should an older car carry?
You should at least have the minimum auto liability insurance required
by your state. Many people with older cars do not purchase collision
or comprehensive coverages. With an older car, the cost of repairing
the physical damages to the car may be greater than the value of the
car. In that case, your car insurance company may declare your car
"total" and give you a check for the car's market value.
If I lend my car to a friend,
is the friend covered under my auto insurance policy?
Yes, your friend is covered under your auto insurance policy.
Am I covered under my auto insurance
policy when I rent a car?
Auto insurance companies may have different policies when your
rent a car for vacation versus for business. In most cases, you
policy will cover your vacation rental car. But many car insurance
companies do not cover rental cars when you are traveling on business.
Contact your auto insurance company to find out if you have rental
coverage.
How much is my auto insurance
company required to pay me if my car is damaged?
Your auto insurance company is required to pay the amount necessary
to return the vehicle to its same condition prior to the damages.
You may request the insurance company for recommended repair facilities
nearby. But you are usually not required to use any specific repair
shop.
How does the auto insurance company decide
if the car is a total loss?
If the car insurance company believes it will be less expensive
to replace the car than repair it, your car will be considered a
total loss. The company will use the car's actual cash value (ACV)
prior to the accident to determine if it is a totaled.
How is the actual cash value of
a car determined?
Your vehicle's actual cash value is what your car is worth on the
open market before the accident. It is determined by comparison
to similar vehicles in the same condition as yours or by a pricing
service that has information about auto prices in the local market.
Condition, equipment and mileage are taken into consideration.
Can my insurance company pay me less
than the Blue Book value for my totaled car?
Yes, the Blue Book is only used as a guide and the company will
use an adjuster to determine what your car was actually worth in
your area just prior to the accident. Adjusters verify prices with
at least two sources.
Get free Auto Insurance Quote online here.
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